Long-time CFWF member Jay Whetter has been selected as the winner of the 2025 CFWF International Travel Bursary sponsored by Bayer Canada.
Jay, a freelance writer, podcaster and editor/chief content producer for Canola Digest, will receive a $2,500 stipend towards costs to attend the 2025 IFAJ Congress in Kenya. He’s also a past president of the Manitoba Farm Writers and Broadcasters Association and has just recently re-joined the MFWBA board as a director.
“I have never been to an IFAJ conference and have never been to Africa. The 2025 IFAJ gathering in Kenya is the perfect opportunity to achieve two firsts with one bursary,” says Jay. “I try many tools to communicate farming best practices and always seek new ones. I want to explore the African approach to extension, and I’m looking forward to doing so through the experience of attending the congress.”
Bayer’s valuable continuing support of this bursary recognizes the important role journalists and communicators play in the agriculture industry and CFWF appreciates its long-time partnership with the company.
“We’re thrilled to sponsor this International Bursary, as it’s a great opportunity to put Canadian agriculture on the global stage” says Ginger Rozmus, Bayer’s Senior Communications Lead. “Bayer is proud to support one of Canada’s incredible farm writers through helping them attend the upcoming congress. We know that they will have an unforgettable experience getting to learn and network with other farm writers from around the world. Congratulations Jay Whetter on this fantastic achievement!”
Annually, CFWF supports the travel costs of its IFAJ executive member – currently Alberta’s Craig Lester – to attend both the IFAJ congress and the annual executive meeting. As not all those funds will be needed by Craig this year, the CFWF board has voted to redirect some of that budget to create a second IFAJ congress bursary for 2025.
This means the judging committee – Clare Stanfield, John Greig and Lilian Schaer – were able to select a second winner, who will also receive a $2,500 travel stipend.
The second travel bursary has been awarded to Julia Smith from British Columbia. Julia, a livestock farmer, is on the board of the BC Farm Writers’ Association, as well as Executive Director of the Small-Scale Meat Producers’ Association.
“I’m honoured and delighted to receive this bursary. Attending the IFAJ Congress in Kenya is an incredible opportunity to explore innovative global approaches to climate-smart livestock agriculture and to learn from fellow communicators and farmers around the world,” says Julia. “Given my personal experience with climate challenges and small-scale farming, I’m particularly excited to exchange ideas, gain fresh perspectives, and build relationships that will amplify our efforts in Canada, while fostering meaningful
collaborations with like-minded colleagues globally.”
The 2025 IFAJ Congress will be held October 14 to 18 in Nairobi, Kenya. Registration is now open.